Before you go
The most important thing to do before your first parkrun is register at parkrun.org.uk. Registration is free and takes about two minutes. After registering you will receive an email with your personal barcode. Save it to your phone or print it. Without it you can still run but you will not get an official time.
The second most important thing is to check whether your event is actually running. Cancellations happen more often than most people realise. Events get called off due to weather, venue issues or a lack of volunteers, and the announcement often comes on the Friday evening. Check the event's Facebook page the night before, or sign up for free email alerts at SaturdayOff so you find out without having to remember to check.
Barcode saved or printed. Event confirmed as running. Appropriate shoes for the terrain. Water bottle if it is warm. That is genuinely all you need.
What happens on the day
- 1Arrive by 8:50am
parkrun starts at 9am sharp. Arriving early gives you time to find the start area, use the toilet if there is one, and introduce yourself to a volunteer. Tell them it is your first time. They will look after you.
- 2The first-timer briefing
Most events run a short first-timer briefing just before the main brief. A volunteer or the Run Director will explain the course, the finish procedure and any specific things to watch out for. This is worth attending even if you feel like you already know what you are doing.
- 3The main event brief
At around 8:55am the Run Director gives the main briefing to the whole field. They will cover the course route, any hazards, volunteer thanks and the finish procedure. Listen carefully to the finish instructions, particularly how to collect your token.
- 4Seed yourself sensibly
When the field lines up, faster runners go to the front. If you are planning to walk, start at the back. There is no chip timing so where you start affects your time slightly, but more importantly starting too far forward creates congestion for faster runners on narrow course sections.
- 5Run, jog or walk
Follow the course markers and marshal directions. Stay to the left to let faster runners pass on your right. Thank the marshals as you pass them. They are all volunteers giving up their Saturday morning for you.
- 6The finish funnel
As you approach the finish line, keep moving forward in the funnel and do not stop or step out. A volunteer will hand you a small token with your finishing position printed on it. Do not drop it, bend it, or swap it with anyone else. It is tied to your result.
- 7Scan your barcode
After collecting your token, find the barcode scanning station nearby. A volunteer will scan your position token and then your personal barcode. Both together record your result. If you forget to scan, your token is wasted and you will not receive a time.
- 8Check your results that afternoon
Results are published on parkrun.org.uk by mid-afternoon. You will also receive an email with your time, your overall position, your gender position, your age category position and your age grade percentage. Your personal best is automatically tracked across every event you run.
The etiquette
parkrun has a strong community culture and a few unwritten rules that most regulars follow. Getting these right on your first visit will make the experience better for everyone around you.
- Stay left. Walk or run on the left side of the path and let faster runners pass on your right. Particularly important on narrow sections.
- Thank the marshals. Every marshal is a volunteer. A quick "thank you" as you pass is part of the culture and always appreciated.
- Do not litter. Take your gel wrapper or water bottle with you or use a bin. Course litter is one of the most common complaints from venues hosting parkrun.
- Do not use a pram or buggy on a course that cannot accommodate one. Check the event page before bringing one. Some courses are simply not suitable.
- Keep your headphone volume down. You should be able to hear marshal instructions and other runners around you at all times.
- Do not run on behalf of someone else. Using another person's barcode is against the rules and skews the results for everyone. Register your own barcode even if someone else cannot make it that day.
Common first-timer mistakes
What to wear
There is no dress code at parkrun. Wear what you would wear for any outdoor activity in the current weather. A few practical points:
- Dress for the weather, not for the occasion. parkrun in December is cold. parkrun in July can be warm. Layer appropriately.
- Check the course terrain before choosing shoes. Tarmac courses suit road shoes. Mixed or trail courses suit trail shoes. Our course guides cover this for every event we have reviewed.
- High-visibility clothing is not required but is helpful in low-light conditions, particularly in autumn and winter when early morning starts can be dark at certain locations.
- A running vest or bib is not needed. Many people run in jeans, work trainers or whatever they have available. The community is genuinely non-judgmental about kit.
What to do after your first parkrun
Most parkrun events have an informal post-run tradition of gathering at a nearby cafe. Check the event page for details. This is where you will find out quickly whether parkrun is actually about the running or the community. Usually it is the community.
Check your results on parkrun.org.uk that afternoon. Your age grade percentage is a useful measure of how your performance compares to the world record for your age and gender over 5km. Many runners find this more motivating than absolute time because it accounts for age.
If you enjoyed it, come back next week. The only way to improve your parkrun time is to run it regularly. And volunteering at least once every so often is how the whole thing keeps working.